How can I exclude some app's files from showing up on iOS Files App?

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Level 1

14 points

How can I exclude some app's files from showing up on iOS Files App?

I copied some files to my iPhone via ITunes to a specific app by selecting the phone in iTunes, clicking "File Sharing", selecting the app and then dragging and dropping the files into the app. Now those files are in the app but they also show up in the iOS Files App. I don't want them to show up in the Files app. They are private files (password.txt, ssh-key.private.txt, secret-project-planning.txt).

Things I tried

turn off app in Siri and Search -> App Name -> Siri & Suggestions

this removed the files from search on the home screen but not from the Files app.

looked in the Files app for settings

there are no per app settings in the Files app

searched in system settings for "Files"

no matches. Apparently there are no settings for the Files app.

searched in system settings for the apps whos' files I don't want exposed in the Files App

no related settings appeared. Document storage is set to "On My iPhone". "Siri & Search" shows "off"

turn off "Show app" in Siri & Search setting.

This has the ridiculous effect of making the app itself not appear as a search result but the settings for the app still appear as does the app's folder so technically the app is still showing up in search.

How can I get the files not to show up in the Files App?

iPhone X, iOS 12

Posted on May 4, 2019 5:21 AM

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Answer 1

SiHancox

Level 5

4,953 points

May 4, 2019 6:16 AM in response to greggman

I’m seeing the same behaviour with the Readdle Documents App, if pdf’s are transferred from iMac using iTunes as per your description, then no matter if the Documents App is password protected the pdf’s still show in the Documents folder of Locations>On My iPhone of the Files App, Documents under “Locations” though will not open without said password.

I believe this is due to the fact they are put in the iTunes folder when transferring from iMac, if I move them out of that folder in the Documents App then they are no longer seen by the Files Apps.

It’s logical when you think of it because if they remain in the iTunes folder they would instantly be seen when the device is reconnected to the iMac and you open iTunes!

So long story short, after transferring from the computer see if they can be moved into another location in your “App” so when that App is locked they are not seen, even via the Files App.

Below is a screen shot from iPad showing the Locations section.

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Answer 2

greggman Author

Level 1

14 points

May 4, 2019 6:20 AM in response to sergekills

No, the app appears under "On My IPhone" (see Firefox)

Here as a test app you can use Firefox, download any pdf (there's one at https://greggman.github.io/doodles/dl.html )

After being downloaded that file will appear in the Files app.

I need a way to make files for certain apps NOT appear in the Files app

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Answer 3

greggman Author

Level 1

14 points

May 4, 2019 6:42 AM in response to SiHancox

I follow what you mean but your answer doesn't match my experience. I have plenty of apps with passwords to access files or folders. Those files and folders are still showing up in the Files App.

Also, even if the file can't be opened, just knowing it exists and seeing the thumbnails is enough to leak info

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Answer 4

greggman Author

Level 1

14 points

May 4, 2019 6:50 AM in response to KiltedTim

Lots of reasons this is an issue, just searching for things in the system search (drag down on homescreen) shows results from the files app. That means using search is a time bomb waiting to happen where type "se" and it matches some file called "secret-party-for-jill.pdf" when Jill is watching me use my phone in the normal course of using it. So, even though I've hidden the app from Siri and Search all the files in that app are still showing up.

If the file didn't show up then I'd easily only access the file when she's not looking but since the files show up in search they can appear at anytime the system decides to match them.

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Answer 5

SiHancox

Level 5

4,953 points

May 4, 2019 6:52 AM in response to greggman

greggman wrote:

I need a way to make files for certain apps NOT appear in the Files app

This is screenshot of Documents on my iPad.

The four files in the iTunes folder can be seen by the Files App whether the Documents App is password protected or not, the single file “This file can’t be seen by...” is not seen in the Files App if the Documents App is password protected because you require the said password in the Files App as well.

Having the ability to password protect the App and storing the file in the correct location is key to not having the Files App gain access.

Hope this has helped a little.

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Answer 6

greggman Author

Level 1

14 points

May 4, 2019 6:16 AM in response to SiHancox

that doesn't work. Even files made inside the app are seen in Files app. Going inside the app, making a new folder, moving the files in that folder, now the Files app sees both the folder and still sees the files in that folder.

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Answer 7

SiHancox

Level 5

4,953 points

May 4, 2019 6:33 AM in response to greggman

I would suggest you consider not using that particular “App” if you can’t protect the files stored or contained in it then.

It’s something I’ve never really considered until seeing your post, but if the Files App has access to locations used by other Apps, then those other Apps (like Readdle Documents) must have an option to prevent access if the user so desires.

When the Readdle Documents App is password protected then any content that’s not stored in the iTunes folder will be protected, because you can’t open the Documents App without the password, likewise you will not be allowed to access Documents under the “Locations” section of the Files App without the same password and because they are not stored in the iTunes folder they can’t be displayed via “On My iPhone/iPad” under the “Locations” section of the Files App as well.

If you follow what I mean.

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Answer 8

greggman Author

Level 1

14 points

May 4, 2019 6:58 AM in response to SiHancox

Sorry but I'm not understanding your response

The file you claim is hidden doesn't appear to be hidden. Its name is "Note 4 May 2019 at 14_35_59" and its contents is "This file can't be seen by the Files app". I can see it just fine. Or is your screenshot not of the Files App?

I don't need to be able to open the file for data to be leaked. I only need to see the filename and/or the thumbnail. Both will leak info even if I can't open the file and both will show up in system search even if I can't open the file (see other reply with big red screenshot showing the filename and thumbnail being shown in search results)

Also, As a point to show this is important, MacOS allows you to exclude folders from search onder Spotlight->Privacy. All I'm asking for is the same feature for iOS. If it wasn't important it wouldn't exist in MacOS. So I'm just asking how to get the same functionality in iOS

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Answer 9

SiHancox

Level 5

4,953 points

May 4, 2019 7:25 AM in response to greggman

The screenshot is of the Readdle Documents App when unlocked with a password, it was just to show you that the two locations with regards to storing files is important. Anything kept in the “iTunes Files” folder can be seen by the Files App no matter what, but the single file “This file can’t be seen...” will not be.

I repeat the last part of my previous post “Having the ability to password protect the App and storing the file in the correct location is key to not having the Files App gain access”.

I would suggest you investigate Apps that can be password protected to prevent opening, preferably ones that enable encryption when locked, that way the files stored within should not be visible by the Files App and shouldn’t show in a general search.

It’s only my guess but for what you are trying to achieve you probably aren’t using the correct App.

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Answer 10

greggman Author

Level 1

14 points

May 4, 2019 7:46 AM in response to SiHancox

I see your point but I don't agree. MacOS doesn't require every app to be perfect for privacy to be effective. Instead at an OS level they let the user choose which folders to not include in search results. Privacy by perfection in programming across all 100s of thousands of apps is impossible where as privacy at an OS level is not.

You're basically saying if there's an app that does something I need to do but doesn't have special privacy features added then I'm just out of luck. That might actually be true if iOS doesn't have a way to set which apps get included in Files and which don't like MacOS does but if that's true then Apple really needs to add the feature. It's important in MacOS and it's just as important in iOS.

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Answer 11

SiHancox

Level 5

4,953 points

May 4, 2019 7:57 AM in response to greggman

I don’t disagree with your view, but iOS has always been less flexible when compared to macOS on what a user can and can’t do, so we have to make the best of a “bad” situation.

Why don’t you give Readdle Documents a try, after all it’s free, play around with where your files are kept and try out the password and encryption settings, it may be just what you are looking for.

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